Short haul tow bar

Abstract

A short haul tow bar for a boat which is supported at one end by a pair of wheels. The tow bar is of circular tubular configuration at one end with a transverse sleeve welded across it, so that it may extend horizontally from a vehicle bumper with limited pivotal movement in a vertical plane. The bar is then curved upwardly and it is flattened at the other end to form a rectangular receptacle. A coupling bar carries a cork screw type hook which may be turned into the eye generally provided at the bow of a boat and then inserted into the receptacle to support the boat for pushing it into the water.

What is claimed as invention is: 
     
       1. A short haul tow bar for a motor vehicle on which is mounted a square hitch receiver comprising a rectangular tubular receptacle having aligned holes in the sides thereof and a retainer pin receivable in said aligned holes, for moving over a short distance a boat supported at one end by a pair of wheels, said tow bar comprising: a tubular tow bar adapted at one end to be received in and to extend generally horizontally from, said square hitch receiver;   restraining means on said one end to receive a retainer pin extended through said aligned holes and prevent withdrawal of said one end from said hitch receiver;   vertical stop portions on said one end engageable with the top and bottom of said hitch receiver to restrict closely vertical oscillation of said bar;   lateral stop portions on said one end engageable with the sides of said hitch receiver to restrict closely horizontal oscillation of said bar;   said tow bar being bent intermediate its ends so that the other end thereof is generally upright; and   a generally horizontal hook device carried on said other end and adapted to engage an eye on the other end of said boat.   
     
     
       2. The short haul tow bar defined by claim 1 wherein: the other end of said bar forms an upstanding receptable; and including:   a complementary coupling bar receivable in said receptacle; said hook device being secured to said coupling bar.   
     
     
       3. The tow bar defined by claim 2 wherein: said hook device is of helical configuration about a generally vertical axis so that it may be turned through said eye and provide a horizontal support surface over a wide angle.   
     
     
       4. The tow bar defined by claim 2 wherein: said tow bar is of cylindrical tubular configuration at said one end but flattened at said other end to rectangular configuration.   
     
     
       5. The tow bar defined by claim 1 including: a transverse hinge sleeve of a length to fit closely into said hitch receiver welded across said tow bar at one end to form said restraining means;   surfaces on said sleeve forming said lateral stop portions;   said retainer pin being closely receivable through said sleeve.